Will I ever play tennis again?

I have dislocated my right shoulder twice over the last two years, both times whilst playing tennis. I have been a very keen tennis player in the pa...

Question

I have dislocated my right shoulder twice over the last two years, both times whilst playing tennis.

I have been a very keen tennis player in the past, but have been told that I will never be able to play again.

Is there anything that I can do that will allow me to play again?

Answer

This is extremely unfortunate. Being unable to play your favorite sport must be very distressing and I can well understand that you are keen to explore every alternative to allow you to resume.

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The shoulder joint is largely stabilised by soft tissue, ligaments and the surrounding muscles. This gives the joint its wide range of movement but also means that it is vulnerable and relatively unstable compared with a joint like the hip.

This means that damage to the joint capsule or surrounding muscle can have permanent effect on the joint stability. There are a number of surgical procedures designed to restore stability but they are of varying success. Naturally each subsequent dislocation makes the situation worse.

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You did not mention if you have had orthopaedic surgical advice. If not, it would be worth asking your GP if they would consider referring you to an orthopaedic surgeon with an interest in sports injuries who will be able to assess you fully and tell you how best to minimise further damage.

I hope you will be able to get back to the tennis, but I think you ought to seek an expert opinion first.

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